Before you start
Make sure your room is warm and above 10°C. The chalk paint doesn’t have a strong smell but you still might want to open a window or door for extra ventilation.
Put down a dust sheet so you don’t accidentally end up painting your carpet. If you do, don’t worry, it will wash out easily.
How to prepare bare wood
Use 120 grit sandpaper and lightly sand in the direction of the woodgrain. This will help to give you a smooth surface to help the paint adhere well.
Let the dust settle and wipe it up with white spirit and a cloth.
How to prepare painted wood
If you suspect the paint on your furniture or cupboards is from before the 1960s, it may contain lead. If that’s the case, you can contact our technical services team on 0114 240 9469 and they’ll be able to advise you on what to do.
For paint that’s in a good condition, just lightly sand it with 240 grit sandpaper to help the chalk paint stick.
If your paint is in a poor condition and is flaking off, you need to sand back to the bare wood. This is easiest done with 120 grit sandpaper and an electric sander.
Let the dust settle and wipe it up with white spirit and a cloth.